Jar or bottle closure.



nu. 665,438. ramm- Ian. 8, I91".

V 1:. IA. mamas,

JAB 0R BOTTLE 'GLOSUBE.

(Appliufi'on and July so, 1898.)

(No Model.)

NrrEn STATES CHARLES M. HIGGINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,438, dated January 8, 1901.

Application filed July 30, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jar or Bottle Closures, of which the following is a specifioation.

My invention applies more especially to jars or bottles for adhesive pastes or similar sticky substances, which are usually covered by a removable screw-cap which screws down upon the threaded neck of the jar, with a packing-disk between the two to make an airtight joint. With jars of this kind it frequently happens that the cap becomes firmly bound or cemented to the jar at a point between the top of the jar and the packing-disk or between the screw-threaded rim of the cap and the rim of the jar, due to dried adhesive matter getting between the said parts and cementing the two so tightly as to render it difficult or impossible to remove the cap without mutilating the same or breaking the jar. Now the object of my invention is to obviate this difficulty or, rather, to entirely neutralize it by rendering it possible to easily open the jar even though the rim of the cap becomes firmly cemented or stuck on the neck of the jar, as described. To this end I make the cap in two distinct parts, consisting, respectively, of an annular rim and an internal removable valve cap or disk fitting hermetically to a valve-seat within or upon the said rim. The annular rim is formed with the usual screw-thread or other means to'fasten it on the neck of the jar and with a central aperture within an annular shoulder, which bears upon a packingring or washer interposed between said shoulder and the top of the jar to make a tight joint between the same. The secondary cap or friction valvedisk has a raised or projecting edge, under which a pry can be easily introduced to pry up and thus loosen or remove the same from its seat on or in the annular rim. Hence the whole cap, consisting ofthe annular rim and the friction valve-disk, can be removed from the jar by unscrewing the cap bodily from the neck in the ordinary way; but if the rim should become bound or stuck to the neck of the jar then the rim can be left stationary Serial No. 687,355. (No model.)

and the central valve-disk can be easily pried up and sprung off or out of its tight friction seat in the rim, thus leaving the opening in the cap or annular rim unobstructed and permitting full access to the contents of the jar for removal or use,as may be required. When it is desired to close the jar, the valve-disk can be replaced on or in its annular valveseat and being tightly forced into or onto the same will be held by the friction of the parts and form a secure water-tight joint. I prefer to make the valve-seat in the annular rim with a flaring or converging rim or lip projecting into the jar below the valve-seat, which lip serves as a wiping edge and dripguide, on which the brush can be wiped off to remove excess of paste as it is lifted from the ar.

My invention therefore consists mainly in the features above outlined, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a paste-jar provided with my improved closure. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the jar opened, with the central valve-disk removed and the paste-brush shown as being wiped off on the Wiping edge or flaring lip below the valve-seat; Fig. 5, a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a slight modification in the form of the valve-disk and shown fitted tightly in place. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the valve-disk displaced or raised out of its tightfitting position and resting in its loose or easily-removable position.

In the drawings, A indicates the glass jar or bottle, and B 0 indicate the compound cap which closes the mouth of the same and hermetically seals its contents. This cap according to my invention is formed in two distinct parts B O, which fit together in the manner of a valve and valve-seat.

B is the annular rim which screws upon or is otherwise fastened on the neck of the jar, as shown.

I have shown the usual means of fastening, consisting of an ordinary screw thread g, which screws upon a corresponding thread blown or pressed in the jar in the usual manner, as shown in the drawings. This annular rim is formed with a large central opening f, preferably made as large as is admissible to expose the interior of the jar as widely as possible and permit free access to the same, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Between this central openingfand the threaded rim g, which embraces the neck of the jar, is a flat annular shoulder 71 to overlie the lip or edge of the neck of the jar, and interposed between the two is an elastic packing-ring or washer i, which makes a tight joint between the two and allows for irregularities in jar and cap.

The annular rim or cap B is preferal'ily stamped or spun in one piece of sheet metal, and the sheet metal in its top is preferably so depressed inward as to form a very slightlytapering seat or socket it around the opening fat the exterior of the cap and with an inclined flaring or converging lip m projecting within the jar around the openingf. The seat k is smoothly and accurately formed to serve as a tight inclined valve-seat to receive the other section 0 of the cap, which is also preferably stamped out of sheet metal in the form ofa cupped disk, whose slightly-tapering periphery p forms a friction valve or plug with a smooth accuratelyformed surface which accurately fits the seat or socket 7.; and forms an air and water tightor hermetical joint when the disk is forced into and thus seated in or on the valve-socket 70, as shown fully in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The valve disk or cap C is formed with a slightly-overhanging edge or head 7', which will overhang the annular shoulder 71- of the rim B, and thus permit a small lever or pry of any kind to be introduced between the same, whereby the valve-disk can be readily pried off or out of its seat and be thus removed, thereby permitting access to the contents of the jar in a very simple and wellknown manner, as will be readily understood.

It will now be seen by referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 that when the cap is screwed down tightly upon the jar and the valve-disk O tightly socketed in its seat the jar will be hermetically sealed and its contents safe from evaporation or leakage. \Vhen, however, it is desired to open the jar, the cap may be removed by screwing it olf bodily, and thus uncovering the entire mouth of the jar and fully exposing its contents for removal or use with the same effect as with the common screwcap. If, however, the screw-rim of the cap should be found to be stuck or cemented in place, and thus offer great resistance to removal, then it will be very easy to pry up the valve-disk C, and thus remove it from the rim,and thereby uncover the openingf, which thus gives almost as free access to the contents of the jar as though the entire cap had been removed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thus permitting the free removal of the contents as required.

The edge of the inwardly-projecting valveseat 70, particularly when made with the conical flaring or converging lip m, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, will present a narrow salient edge depending within the jar, and thus formingan efficient wiper and drip-gnide,on which any excess of paste in the brush can be wiped off and from which it will drip hack into the jar, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which presents an important advantage, as will be readily appreciated.

Then it is desired to close the jar temporarily, the valve-disk O can be set on loosely in its socket, or if it is again desired to seal the jar hermetically this can be readily done by forcibly inserting the disk in its original tight-fitting position, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Any smearing of the valve-surfaces that may occur will be no objection and will not cause binding of the valve in its seat on account of the accurate frictional fit of the parts, which cause all moisture to be squeezed out from between them when they are forced together, thus preventing any serious sticking or cementing, and even if the surfaces should adhere somewhat they can be always readily separated by prying up the valve-disk, as already described. Hence in any case the jar can always be opened quickly and readily, whether sticking occurs or not, which is a matter of great importance and has been a great desideratum with jars and bottles of adhesive substances. Not only does this form of closure permit easy opening and closing of the paste-jar under all conditionsof practice, but it secures a much tighter closure or sealing, which is also quite important.

Heretofore it has been usual in putting up jars of adhesive substances to avoid screwing down the caps too tightly in view of the frequent sticking of the caps when thus tightly screwed on and the difficulty of afterward removing them without breakage. Hence in such cases leaks frequently happen, which often serve only to bind the caps tighter and soil and damage the package. This will be entirely prevented by my improved closure, because the rim can be screwed down so tightly at the outset as to prevent the possibility of any such leaks, and it then becomes a matter of indifference whether the screw-rim sticks or not, as the jar can always be readily opened by prying up the valve-disk O, as already described, which is obviously a great ad vantage of this construction.

I do not of course confine myself to a screwthread for securing the annular rim to the glass jar or bottle A, as any other suitable means may be used.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a slight modification in the form of the valve-disk C, which in this caseis formed with two zones 19 andp, of slightly different dimensions, on its plugging or seating portion. The upper and outer zone 19 is the larger and is a tight hermetic frictional fit for the seat 70, whereas the lower on inner zone 1) is a little smaller or a loose fit for the seat 70. Consequently when the disk is forced deeply into its socket the zone 1) fits the valve-seat tightly and makes atight hermetic joint. When, however, the disk is pried out and it is desired to replace it loosely over the opening for a temporary cover while the jar is in use, the zonep will loosely enter the valve-seat and keep the disk in true position, and thus properly cover the opening, yet admit of the easy removal or insertion of the disk at any moment, which would not be the case if the disk were a perfectly tight fit at all positions, as will be readily understood.

When I refer to the aperture or openingf being central, I mean near the center or within the annular bearing-shoulder h, as it is usually a matter of indiiference whether it be exactly central or slightly eccentric; but of course it is usually desirable to have this aperture as large as admissible to get full access to the interiorof the jar, and hence I prefer to make it perfectly central and coincident with the inner periphery of the packing ring or washer, which for the same reason is made as narrow as possible, as will be understood.

It will be noted that the valve-disk O and its seat k are substantially the same as are used in what is known as the Spencer canclosure, and hence I do not wish to infer any claim to these parts in themselves.

What I claim is 1. The combination with the jar or bottle A, of the removable and independent annular metallic cap, or capping-rim B, formed with the central aperture f having friction valveseat 70, with the removable friction valve-disk C hermetically fitting said valve-seat in said capping-rim, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination with the jar or bottle,A, having a screw-neck of the metallic screw-ring,

B, fitting onto said neck and having the aperture, f, and an integrally formed friction valve seat, It, with the removable friction valve plug or disk, 0, hermetically fitting said valve-seat, whereby two modes of opening the jar are provided either by unscrewing the rim and disk bodily or prying the disk off or out of the rim, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination with a jar or bottle, A, of the removable and independent annular cap or capping-rim, B, secured thereon having the central aperture, f, and an integrallyformed valve-seat, is, formed with the depending flaring or converging lip, m, and valvedisk, 0, fitting said valve-seat, it, above said converging lip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with the removable metallic annular cap or capping-rim, B, having the bearing-shoulder, h, and. an integrallyformed friction valve-seat, it, of the friction valve plug or disk, 0, hermetically fitting said seat and with the jar or bottle, A, fitting into said shouldered rim, B, h, with the annular packing, a} interposed between them, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with an annular cap or capping-ring, B, having friction valve-seat, it, of the hermetic friction valve disk or plug, 0, formed with two zones, 19,19 of tight and loose fits respectively for said seat 7t, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

. CHAS. M. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

O. O. BURDINE,

HORACE A. DODGE. 

